Cabinet structure



June 6, 1961 D. M. SANDEFUR 2,987,355

CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 20, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I WM%ZZ? June 6, 1961 D. M. SANDEFUR CABINET STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1959 NVill/fdL: Day l5 Milan/9G" Lilli N I I u.

'IIIII June 6, 1961 D. M. SANDEFUR 2,987,355

- CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 20. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fi I 14 ll I l f I i 1 O V j j k IA/I J/VTOL gm/mm United States Patent 6 2,987,355 CABINET STRUCTURE Douglas M. Sandefur, Gardena, Califi, assignor to Northro Corporation, a corporation of California Filed Jan. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 788,007 3 Claims. (Cl. 312-43) This invention relates to cabinet structures and more particularly to a cabinet structure embodying features rendering it especially useful as a structure in which electronic and like apparatus may be operationally mounted.

An important feature of the instant cabinet structure resides in the fact that it incorporates a box-like closure member hinged on a body portion or housing of the cabinet. The box-like closure member not only serves as closure means for the body portion but provides usable space in which electronic apparatus may be mounted and an additional panel on which operating controls and the like may be mounted. In the closed position of the closure member all operating controls mounted on both a panel mounted on the body portion, and a panel carried by the closure member, are inclosed within the cabinet. In the open position of the closure member the panel carried thereby is positioned in an easily accessible position on top of the body portion.

The instant cabinet structure also embodies at least two other novel features, viz., a ventilating means, making possible the cooling of electronic apparatus mounted in the closure member and a lifting and snubbing means for the closure member, each of which will be described in detail and their function will become apparent as the disclosure progresses.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet structure, adapted to have electronic and like apparatus operationally mounted therein, which incorporates a box-like structure which serves as a closure member for a body portion of the cabinet structure and, in the closed position thereof, renders the outer surfaces of the cabinet structure free of operating controls, indicating instruments and the like.

Another object is to provide a cabinet structure adapted to have electronic and like apparatus mounted therein, which incorporates a box-like closure member which, in the open position thereof, provides an easily and readily accessible panel on which operating controls, indicating instruments and the like may be mounted.

Another object is to provide a cabinet structure adapted to have electronic and like apparatus mounted therein, which includes a box-like closure member pivotally mounted on a body portion of the structure and includes lifting and snubbing means facilitating the movement of the closure member between the open and closed positions thereof.

Another object is to provide a cabinet structure, adapted to have electronic and like apparatus mounted therein, which includes a box-like closure member mounted on a body portion of the structure for movement between open and closed positions and includes means whereby equipment mounted in the closure member may be adequately ventilated both in the open and closed positions thereof.

Although the characteristic features of the present invention are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, the invention itself, also the manner in which it may be carried out, will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the cabinet structure as disclosed herein with the closure member thereof in its closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the Patented June 6, IRS! 2 cabinet structure shown in FIGURE 1 with the closure member thereof in its open position.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views of the cabinet structure disclosed herein as the same would appear as viewed along the lines 3-3, 44 and 5-5 of FIGURES 2 and 3.

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the spring capsule assemblies incorporated in the cabinet structure of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a cabinet structure 11 of the type disclosed herein consisting of a housing or body portion 12 and a closure member 14. The closure member 14 is attached to the body portion 12 for pivotal movement thereon between closed and open positions as shown in FIGURES l and 2, respectively. The structure 11 is rendered mobile in that it is mounted on a castered base assembly 16 and is provided with handles 17 which are attached to the body portion 12.

The cabinet structure 11, both the body portion 12 and the closure member 14, are of cast construction in the embodiment shown, however, it is to be understood that the construction thereof may be of sheet metal or other types of construction.

In the embodiment shown the body portion 12 is con structed of fore and aft panels 18 and 19, respectively, a pair of side panels 21 and 22, a top panel 23 and a bottom panel (not shown) which are secured together as by welding or like means to provide the body portion 12 which is generally rectangular in cross-section and of prismatic configuration. The side panels 21 and 22 are dished and have rounded flanges adjacent their edges, also the fore and aft edges of the top and bottom panels terminate in rounded flanges similar to those on the side panels. This type of construction imparts rounded edges and corners to the structure 11 as best seen in FIGURES l and 2.

The body portion 12 is further characterized in that it includes inclined and horizontally positioned frame members 24 and 26, respectively, which extend laterally between the side panels 21 and 22. Mounted in the frame member 24 is a mounting panel 27 on which operating controls, etc. for electronic equipment mounted in the body portion 12 may be mounted. The panel 27 is hereinafter referred to as the body portions control panel. Mounted on the frame member 26 is a fiber sheet 28 which serves as a work area for an operator of equipment mounted in the cabinet structure 11.

Side plates 2929 are attached to the aforementioned rounded flanges of the side panels at positions forward of and above the frame members 24 and 26, respectively, toprovide a pair of plenum-like chambers 31-31 as best seen in FIGURE 4. Each of the plates 29 has an opening formed therein which is covered by filter members 3232 as shown in FIGURE 4. Air enters the plenum-like chambers 3131 through ports 33-33 formed in the inclined frame member 24.

The closure member 14 includes a body portion 42 of box-like configuration which provides mounting means for an additional control panel 45, hereinafter referred to as the closure member control panel, and also space in which additional electronic equipment may be mounted. The outer end edges, also the fore and aft edges, of the closure member 14 extend beyond the body portion 42 to provide flanges 43-43, 44 and 46, respectively, which bear against a sealing member 47 at such times as the member 14 is in its closed position to provide a seal between the closure member and the body portion 12.

Ports are provided in the end walls of the body portion 42 and are covered by filter elements 32 on the inboard side of the end walls of the portion 42.

Thus it will be seen that the ports, formed in the end walls of the body portion 42, and the ports, formed in the side plates 29, are aligned at such times as the member 14 is in its closed position to provide a flow path for air between the plenum-like chambers 31-31. It will also be seen that the ports, formed in the end walls of the body portion 29', provide adequate ventilation for cooling purposes at such time as the member 14 is in its open position as shown in FIGURE 3.

'As previously mentioned the closure member 14 is pivotally mounted on the body portion 12; this is accomplished by means of a piano hinge or the like. Also mounting the closure member 14 on the body portirgan 12 is a pair of lifting and snubbing assemblies 49- The assemblies 49-49 are of identical construction each including an arm member 51, a link member 52 and a pair of spring capsule assemblies 53 and 54. An enlarged end 59 of the member 51 and one end of the member 52 are pinned to the body portion 12 and the closure member 14, respectively, for pivotal movement thereon about axes indicated by the letters A and B in FIGURE 3. The other ends of the members 51 and 52 are pinned to each other to allow pivotal movement therebetween.

Each of the spring capsule assemblies 53 and 54 are of identical construction as shown in detail in FIGURE 6. Each spring capsule includes a housing 56, an aft fitting 57, a spring 58 and piston and rod combination 59. Threads 61, formed on the aft end of the housing 56, engage mating threads formed in the aft fitting 57. Also mounted on the threads 61 is a ring nut 62; this type of construction allows the force of the spring 58 to be varied as required for a purpose to be explained presently.

The assemblies 49 and spring capsules 53 and 54 are mounted in the cabinet structure 11 and cooperate to exert maximum forces on the closure member 14 in a manner that will become apparent from the following description and by referring to FIGURE 3. The free end of the piston and rod combination associated with the capsules 53 are pivotally attached to the respective enlarged ends 50 of the members 51 at a predetermined distance from the axis A. The other ends of the capsules 53, that is the aft fittings 57, are pivotally attached to the body portion 12 at positions in a horizontal plane containing the axes A. Thus it will be seen that the springs mounted in the capsules 53 will be compressed maximum amounts at such times as the closure member 14 is in its open position (FIGURE 3) and also in its closed position. The enlarged end 50 of the arm member 51, corresponding to the closed position of the member 14, is shown in dotted line construction in FIGURE 3. Under the relationship just described, it will now be apparent that the springs mounted in the capsules 53 will exert their maximum forces at such times as the closure member 14 assumes its open and closed positions and minimum forces when the member 14 is midway between its open and closed positions.

The free ends of the piston and rod combinations of the capsule assemblies 54 are respectively pivotally attached to the free ends of the piston and rod combinations, associated with the capsule assemblies 53, at locations adjacent the latters attachment points on the enlarged ends 50 of the arm members 51. The aft ends of the capsules 54 are pivotally attached to the body portion 12 at locations below the capsule 53 substantially as shown in FIGURE 3. Thus it will be seen that the compression of the springs mounted in the capsule assemblies 54 will be a maximum and a minimum at such times as the closure member 14 is in its closed and open positions, respectively. Accordingly the springs mounted in the capsule assemblies 54 will exert their maximum and minimum forces as the closure member 14 assumes its closed and open positions, respectively.

The forces exerted by the capsule assemblies 54 are almost nil at such times as the closure member is in its open position. Accordingly, the full force of the capsule assemblies 53, less minimum forces exerted by the capsules 54, hereinafter referred to as final forces, are available to snub the movement of the closure member as the latter approaches its full open position. Likewise the final forces also function to initiate the movement of the closure member 14 from its open position at such time as the locking mechanism 55 is released.

By referring to FIGURE 3 it will be seen that the piston and rod combinations mounted in the capsule assemblies 54 move through greater distances than similar components mounted in the capsule assemblies 53 as the closure member 14 is moved from its open to its closed position. This construction insures that the springs mounted in the capsule assemblies 54 will be compressed to a greater extent than those mounted in the capsuleassemblies 53 at such times as the member 14 is in its closed position, therefore, the force exerted by the former springs will override the forces exerted by the latter springs. Accordingly the capsule assemblies 54 provide the dominating forces, hereinafter referred to as initial forces, to snub the movement of the closure member 14 as the latter approaches its closed position and they also provide the dominating forces to initiate return movement of the member 14 from its closed to its open position. It will also be seen that the initial and final forces exceed the combined forces of the capsules 53 and 54 at such times as the closure member 14 is being moved through its intermediate range, that is at such times as the member 14 is located intermediate its fully opened and fully closed positions. These combined forces of the capsules 53 and 54, effective as the member 14 moves through its intermediate range, are hereinafter referred to as intermediate forces.

It will also be noticed that the force exerted by the springs mounted in the capsule assemblies 53 and 54 may be altered to suit conditions. For example, with electronic equipment mounted in the closure member 14 the force of the springs may be altered to compensate for this additional weight. This is accomplished by backing off the ring nut 62 from its bottomed position on the aft fitting 57. After freeing the nut 62 the housing 56 may be turned in a clockwise direction which will cause the respective springs to exert a greater force than that previously exerted. After the required adjustments are completed the nut 62 is again bottomed on the fitting 57 for obvious reasons.

Thus it will be seen that a cabinet structure is disclosed embodying a closure member in which electronic equipment or the like may be mounted and thus provide more space, an additional control panel and otherwise fulfills the various objects of the invention as set forth above.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the inventions is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise a preferred form of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cabinet structure the combination comprising: a housing having top, bottom, fore, aft and parallel side walls and which is partially of prismatic configuration; portions of said housing defining a rectangular opening extending along one of the edges of said housing and terminating short of said pair of side walls; a box-like closure member; hinge and linkage means pivotally mounting said closure member on said housing for movement between an open position in which said closure member is juxtapositioned on said top wall and a closed position in which the major portion of said closure member is positioned inside said housing and wall portions of said closure member to close said opening and cooperate with the walls of said housing to render the latter a complete prism of square configuration; said closure member having a pair of end walls which have a parallel spaced relation with respect to the side walls of said housing, a pair of side plates respectively attached to the inboard sides of said pair of side walls of said housing at positions adjacent to and extensive with the end walls of said closure member, at such time as the closure member is in its closed position, to define a pair of plenum chambers, each of said side plates defining an aperture therein and each of the end walls of said closure member defining an aperture therein which are aligned with the apertures in said side plates at such time as said closure member is in its closed position.

2. In a cabinet structure the combination comprising: a housing partially of prismatic configuration; portions of said housing defining an opening which extends along one edge of said housing; a box-like closure member having side and end walls; hinge and linkage means pivotally mounting said closure on said housing for movement between an open position in which said closure member is juxtapositioned on an outside surface of said housing and a closed position in which the major portion of said closure member is positioned within said housing and wall portions of said closure member to close said opening and cooperate with the walls of said housing to render the latter a complete prism of square configuration; said housing being further characterized by including an inside wall which constitutes a panel member on which electronic control and like elements may be mounted and which is easily accessible through said opening; one of said side walls of said closure member also constituting a panel member on which electronic control and like elements may be mounted and which is easily accessible at such times as said closure member is in said open position and the latter control panel is positioned within said housing, at such times as said closure member is in said closed position said hinge and linkage means includes a hinge and a pair of linkage assemblies attached to and extending between said housing and closure member, each of said linkage means including a pair of elongated spring capsules coacting to exert initial forces on said closure member at such times as said closure member is in said closed position in a direction tending to open said closure member and further coacting to exert final forces on said closure member which are less than said initial forces in a direction tending to close said closure member at such times as said closure member is in said open position and further coacting to provide intermediate forces, which are less than either said initial or final forces, acting on said closure member in a direction aiding either the opening or closing of said closure member at such times as said closure member is positioned intermediate the fully open and fully closed positions thereof.

3. In a cabinet structure the combination comprising: a housing partially of prismatic configuration; portions of said housing defining an opening which extends along one edge of said housing; a box-like closure member having side and end walls; hinge and linkage means pivotally mounting said closure member on said housing for movement between an open position in which said closure member is juxtapositioned on an outside surface of said housing and a closed position in which the major portion of said closure member is positioned within said housing and wall portions of said closure member to close said opening and cooperate with the walls of said housing to render the latter a complete prism of square configuration; said hinge and linkage means including a pair of arm members pivotally mounted on said housing and attached to said closure member whereby pivotal movement may be imparted to said closure member with respect to said housing, at least one pair of elongated spring capsules each having a fixed end and an extendable end; the extendable end of one of said pair of capsules being pivotally attached to an end of one of said arm members at a predetermined radial distance from the pivotal axis of said one arm member on said housing and the fixed end of said one of said pair of capsules being pivotally attached to said housing at a position horizontally spaced from the pivotal axis of said pair of arm members on said housing; the extendable end of the other capsule being pivotally attached to the extendable end of said one of said pair of capsules and the fixed end of said other capsule being pivotally attached to said housing at a location intermediate to and below the pivotal axis of said one capsule on said housing and said arm member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 272,776 Ross Feb. 20, 1883 1,861,520 Arnold June 7, 1932 2,442,451 Albin June 1, 1948 2,478,254 Doner Aug. 9, 1949 

